BISMARCK, ND – After a long wait, the University of Mary women's soccer team finally gets to experience their regular season opener when the Marauders face the Yellowjackets of Black Hills State University on Thursday, Sept. 12, in a neutral site match in Billings, MT. And if a team is ready to take the field, it is UMary.
The Marauders are coming off a second straight trip to the Northern Sun semifinals and had a busy offseason that included a trip to France to play a couple matches and watch Team USA compete in the World Cup. The Marauders opened camp on August 19 with Olympic Gold Medalist
Jillian Loyden on hand to work with the squad before UMary ventured off to the great northwest for a pair of scrimmages. After hosting an exhibition game on Labor Day, the Marauders watched several conference schools open their seasons last weekend.
While the Marauders are anxious to roll, the team knows it must take everything as it comes and to not rush ahead.
"We are taking things one part of our season at a time," said Marauders head coach
Sarah Cook as UMary embarks on the program's 25
th season. "This weekend we are in our-non-conference schedule. These games count towards our regional ranking, but not our conference ranking. Our goal is to win these games so we can have the best regional ranking possible and prepare us for our upcoming conference matches next weekend at home."
Led by All-Northern Sun midfielder/defender
Kylee Welch, the Marauders return a veteran group that includes seven players who started at least ten games last year and 14 scholar-athletes who saw action. That group is augmented by 12 newcomers.
With the graduation of four all-conference players from last year's squad, Cook is looking forward to the opportunities available to her players to find success this season.
"I think you'll see a balance amongst the squad this year versus expecting everything to come through one player," said Cook. "We are focused on the 11 who are on the pitch at any given time, as each individual will have a specific role to lead to the team's success.
"It's great to have so many experienced players on our roster, such as
Madisyn Waltman,
Cassidy Pierce,
Malia Brudvik,
Tiffany Ohlhauser,
Kylee Welch,
Sidney Burrell and
Hannah Richter in particular. But all the upperclassmen have done a tremendous job in preparing us for this year, especially seniors
Sidney Burrell,
Kylee Welch,
Patricia Martin, and
Taylor Pettigrew. Their leadership has been outstanding.
"An exciting part of our team is that every new player on our roster can impact our team. That's impressive!"
After facing Black Hills State on Thursday to open the Rimrock Classic, the Marauders face host school MSU Billings on Sept. 14.
The Marauders then return home to open the Northern Sun schedule against Northern State University on Sept 20 and MSU Moorhead on Sept. 22.
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